The FCC Enforcement Bureau has entered into a Consent Decree with Horizon Hobby, LLC to resolve a case involving the marketing and sale of noncompliant audio/video (A/V) transmitters intended for use on drones. The Consent Decreewas attached to an FCC Order released on August 16. The Enforcement Bureau said the transmitters violated the FCC’s equipment marketing and Amateur Radio rules.
“These laws ensure that radio frequency devices comply with the Commission’s technical requirements and do not interfere with authorized communications,” the Enforcement Bureau said. “Because the noncompliant A/V transmitters could operate in bands that are reserved for important operations, including Federal Aviation Administration Terminal Doppler Weather Radar, they must not be marketed or operated by anyone. Moreover, entities that rely on amateur frequencies in operating compliant A/V transmitters must have an amateur license and otherwise comply with all applicable laws for such operation.”
In the Consent Decree, Horizon Hobby concedes that it marketed A/V transmitters that did not comply with FCC equipment marketing rules. The company has agreed to implement a compliance plan and to pay a $35,000 civil penalty.
On December 20, 2017, the Bureau’s Spectrum Enforcement Division issued a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) to Horizon Hobby, directing it to respond to a series of questions relating to its marketing of A/V used with drones in the US. “The investigation revealed that some of the A/V transmitters Horizon Hobby marketed were capable of operating outside of the authorized Amateur Radio Service bands, but were not certified or otherwise compliant with the Rules. These A/V transmitters are considered intentional radiators and must comply with the Equipment Marketing Rules.”
The FCC said that after it received the LOI, the company stopped marketing the noncompliant A/V transmitters.
A privately held limited liability company, Horizon Hobby advertises and sells fully assembled drones through several websites, as well as parts and accessories for those systems.
Source:ARRL
Antenna
SUPER VERTICAL 8 ULTRA HF 4-6-10-11*-12-15-17-20-30-4
Vertical-Array is proud to present the vertical 8-bands HF 8 “SV 8 ” antenna. The SV8 working in HF for 4-6-10-11-12-15-17-20-30-40... Read more
XR3-NV | HIGH PERFORMANCE 14 ELEMENT 20 / 15 / 10 METER MULTI-MONO CONTEST YAG
The Ultimate Contest Tribander: fourteen elements delivering superior performance on 20, 15 and 10 meters! Click here to download a PDF of the XR6 pro... Read more
The CDAA Antenna and the Wullenweber
A CDAA of which the Wullenweber is a type, consists of a group of omnidirectional antennas symmetrically spaced about the periphery of a circular ref... Read more
80m & 40m DUAL BAND HOMEBREW 2 EL SHORT BOOM YAGI by VE6WZ
“The VE6WZ QTH is a small city lot, so achieving gain on 80m has been difficult. A vertical 4 sq. wire array was considered but would h... Read more
ANTENNA LAUNCHER – THE AIR BOSS DEMONSTRATION
The AIR BOSS antenna launcher was designed to launch a light fishing line over trees in order to create temporary antenna for ham radio operators. Sin... Read more
VHF
Announcing the BTECH GMRS-V1
Announcing the BTECH GMRS-V1 We are excited to announce the most flexible GMRS radio, the BTECH GMRS-V1. The GMRS-V1 includes 23 modifiable channels f... Read more
New Video, D-STAR and the Icom RS-MS1A Android App
Icom UK together with TX Films have produced a video providing an introduction to D-STAR and the Icom RS-MS1A Android D-STAR application softwa... Read more
MOTOTRBO XPR 7000 Series
The MOTOTRBO XPR 7000 Series is a communications powerhouse for demanding users. Offering a full set of features and rich functionality in one... Read more
BaoFeng GT-3 Mark II Dual Band UHF/VHF
23CM High Gain Antenna allows Baofeng GT-3 Mark II to transmit in 8KM. Optimal SQL Setting Frequecy Range: 65-108 Mhz(Only commercial FM radio recepti... Read more
Equipment
GroundBreaker – Isolate your audio to remove RFI and ground loop problems!
The bhi GroundBreaker audio unit isolates the grounds on your bhi DSP noise cancelling product or other ancillary equipment from those of the radio sy... Read more
New! YAESU FTA-750L
The YAESU FTA-750L Combines tradition with innovation. Born from a history of high quality communications the FTA-750L now includes a 66 channel GPS... Read more
Small QRP-GO-BOX powered by Raspberry Pi4, KX2 and TH-D74
Small multifunctional, digital, very compact amateur radio station for the radio operation at home, on the way or in the emergency radio. For the digi... Read more
Radiosport RS55SL SuperLight Travel Headset
Travel headset The newest edition headset from Radiosport – The SuperLIght Flex Boom-Mic headset. The perfect companion for your SmartPhone, T... Read more
Mobile Communications Center – Go Box by KI6AIX
Designed and built by Dennis, KI6AIX. This Mobile Comm Center features VHF and UHF two-way radios, a scanner, internal battery or power supply.... Read more
App - Mobile
What is Echolink? Ham Radio 2.0: Episode 56
Mark Goodrum, W5MHG, discusses Echolink for Ham Radio at the Duke City Hamfest Read more
AmsatDroidFree now open source
AmsatDroidFree satellite tracking App for Android devices is now open source. This App predicts future passes for amateur radio satellites for a speci... Read more
Antenna Tool App – Android
A tool to help ham radio, CB, and other radio users to create antennas of various types. Calculations available for dipole, vertical (1/8, 1/4, 3/8, 1... Read more
SmartSDR for iOS v1.0.4 Now Available
FlexRadio Systems announces the release of SmartSDR for iOS v1.0.4 is now available for download or update from the Apple App Store. This release con... Read more
CommCat 4 for Radio Control and Logging!
CommCat 4 is a radio control and logging program for radio amateurs who share a passion for talking to other hams around the world. CommCat works with... Read more